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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Commentary MONDAY MAY 20, 1991 Range Workshop discusses grazing Livestock grazing is a tool which can provide beneficial or detriment effects, depending on how it is managed. Such was the consensus of speakers at the 1991 Arizona Strip Range Work7. shop held in Kanab on May ad- Three questions were H D 0 .x X3ff ,i '91! NEW FOR THE NEW SKY SCRAPER: It's Big! It's New! It's Family adventure waiting for you ot Lagoon. 1 5 stories of Passport includes the hottest waterpark in the West! Don't forget your swimsuit! LAGOON A BEACH: Your ENTERTAINMENT: The stars shine night ond ON-GOI- day at Lagoon! Don't miss Utah's finest performers, as they sing ond dance their way into your heart! AT LAGOON'S PIONEER VILLAGE CAMPGROUND! (Located just a short wdk from Logoon's Maa Entrance) to two (2) rights of FREE camping ct Pioneer Village Campground when dip the coupons end enjoy 1 HTTJ EOtlEER VniZGE 23 CfiMFGROUtiD WHMJ ITWs mm jool hr ret (1) agfat ti pretfilpadwtilreylagoreAl-DByPejpor- i I I Iwto. - FREE I 1 mpaj t. UtlHSI-tlt- l jkynMW OfeamSMtellWI wiHi I I I I I you purchase any Lcgoon Resorvotwm Not required rU Jim y Offer expres September (801)451-4)10- All-D- ay up Passport! 1 t, Wy 23 1 24, 1991 1991 Pleose present toupoo at regstrutioo NAME bL Jlwnbirliiyow group Zip Codt . HA 44X0 .,f; dressed by file first speaker, Jeff Mosley, Department of Range Science, University of Idaho. What are the environmental effects of livestock? Why is it so difficult to explain these to the public? And, finally, what are the consequences of removing livestock grazing from public lands? Mosleys answer concerning the environmental effects oflive-stoc- k grazing was, it depends. To explain this, he showed a series of slides first showing riparian areas in poor shape as a result of poor livestock management followed by slides showing vigorous, healthy riparian areas which are also grazed by livestock, but have had a better management applied. Livestock grazings effect on wildlife can also be either good or bad. Mosley explained that each species of wildlife has different requirements for food, cover, water, and space. Any plant community change, natural or other, will benefit some species to the detriment of oth-er-s. An area with diverse plant communities is considered best because it provides the food, cover, water, and space for the most wildlife species. Livestock are one of the best tools range managershave for manipulating plant communities, making them more diverse. Dr. Mosley said the reason it is hard to explain the environmental effects of livestock grazing is because the public lacks commonality with resource users and managers. He noted most of the populace is urban with no involvement in food and fiber production. As the number of people directly involved in the production of food and fiber decreases, the importance of these products fades into the background. The effects of removing livestock grazing from public lands on the federal economy would be minimal. But the impact on the economies of many western states would be severe. Mosley used Idaho as an example, where 88 percent of the livestock producers depend on public lands to provide forage for their livestock. The impact of losing public lands for grazing livestock would be substantial. Dr. Mosley saidbiggame populations would suffer in public land states if livestock grazing was eliminated from public rangeland. The reasons for this are varied, but the major reason was the loss of big game winter range. Without the use of public lands, a rancher would be forced to utilize his private lands, which are also winter range for big game in many areas, more intensely. As a result, less feed would be available for big game during the winter. |